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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1979-02-08, Page 1010. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, FEBRUARY 8, 109 An/ „.„:174.4.1ipity by Alle Gibb 4 ,: .. __..m ,...„. „,..,. A.10.1CSVORY — This week's column is going to be a song Of praise tO. One om parts'ef growing up. So, if yoU didn't spead leas some of your younger, days with au anise -flavored ball. of hard, black candy nestled in, yr cheek, then this "• coldmn likely isn 't for you. The reason is becaase this column is ;devoted •to Me praiSe Of that vaniShing confectionery delicacy - the jblAelt ball. and it's grander cousin, the lawbreaker. . • Until lately, I supposed that everyone w ho'd grown u in the last 20 or 30 years knew allahritit the joys of Sticking on a black ball, 1 also mistakenly thought that •black 'bails had disappeared from .store counters the same way five cent chocolate bars* penny licorice, exotic coconut and the three -penny Tootsie pops of my youthhad vanished. But k now Ive discovered at le* one store in.Seaforth Larone's Stationary.. and Gifts* still carries he candy balls that coat your teeth •a grim black. The price has gone up from three for a penny to two cents apiece, but with the falling dollar. what else can ,yett. eXpect? The only real difference 1 could discover during my extensive research (yesterday, I sucked on 15 black balls before tackling this column) N% as that the black balls of my younger days had a tiny seed in the centre* whereas today. the black balls are candy down to the very last drop, SOCIM, LIFE Now since I discovered the black ball, tnysoeialiWe has improved immensely. Friends from my hometown have even taken %driving here just to stock up en Me candies they remember from their younger days ter to introduce 'Melt children to the delights' of black balls) and they eecassionally call on me as well. Now although black balls have a slightlyq different flavor from other candy, and the layers change from- one brilliant color to another asi you suelt. the candies' attraction reallv , isn't their Physical properties alone. No. blackballs 1"ve decided, are synonymous with the -good old days" and growing up. You remember the days when you didn't pay income tax and work involved nothing more strenuous than dusting the furniture or cutting tbe grass to earn your • ' In my hornetown, a small village called Froornefield. On. • , the banks of the .St. Clair River, the place to buy black balls was Hicks' General, Store. ., • '. Mr, Hicks. who had been in business when my father • was a teenager, operated his store from a coinfortable • captain's chair which he amply filled', His store consisted Of one large room at -the front ,of Jtis house but it was • 'crammed with everything from toys to straw- hats to Meat and potatoes. CONSERVATIVE Now Mr. Hicks was a former Orangeman, a stauhcli ' Conservative and sometimes a rather frightening charac- ter to 'we memberof the younger generation, who faced $trattordpri Cor,::.-Srunswick-&-Wate,rioo inner adDa to celebrate IsDa Saturday 17th February Buffet Brunch on Sunday .;• • 'Th 4 rnenus.-, iTkAiding bruncti - are ever onanoing • * and never disappointing. .Q•ar,e. • . • • Prets q7s: Orily in „Stratford you say/ That s noht •ioweyes no cause to say -.pity' An ' • autumn Sunday in the' traridua and handsome community that ,ncludes %inch ,at The Chu,ch is pufe pileasue. • • • -s . • s. F. "51 -it Pleasa phone. for reservations (519) 2734424 Tuesday to F"..ida '2 'X 2 cq Sunday Tuesday to Sa-da.3 rnere °Con hinvover the C-onnter, a peddiatitehed. tightly in ,our hand.. 1 always figured I had two adoisntages in dealing with Mr. Hicks - for one thing, we went to the sante church as he did and Mr. Hicks took his religion—SeriOnSly hut more impOrtantiv. his granddaughter was my best friend. That eonndoneertainly- never hurt . particularly if she came in with mel when 1 spent my weekly allowance ithen there would always be some extra candy dropped in my bag.1 The Stores stork inchtded everything,from dusty pepper. „salt shakers, whiehl.'m sure sold only at Mower s itay and C'hristmas, to .meat, kept in , an old-fashioned freezer cOMpartment and a large supply of tobacco, Now although the women in he village certainly weren't proponents of the chewing Ltobacco habit. I noticed Mr. Hicks Stocked the delicacy in fair quantities. Looking back, I can only assume the tobacco was tucked, in a cheek or two when the Merl, in the village escaped the.rigors of daily life by going fishing for the evening, - In my youngest days, my weekly AllOWance was entirely spent under Mr. Hicks' guiding eye. There were jitbe jubes, penny suckers, black balls, of course, and alt the things that made life worth thing; • , As I grew older, my allowance grew in.proportioo (to my age.not to the amount of work I did, since I soon discovered ways to avoid the Saturday ehores). I also learned the arfof patience and waited until Monday when I Went to school to spend part of my allowance. Then I could 'pop next door to the modern variety store. But, sinee the proprietor ,as never very anxious to stand by for penny purchases.ltill bought my black balls from Mr,, Hicks, • • THE NEWS , Mr. Hicks' store didn't justserve the conunanity by selling groceries and the odd gift. It was also the place you. went to hear the news. For example,: Mr. Hicks knew immediately, when . our. Chippewa neighbours . up the, highway had 'sold another part of their reservation—to One of the industries, because his grocery orciers_immediately jumped in sizeo, . lie,also knew which, boats were in at the Canadian ml dock u i g. since sailors ould ine itabI come. In to pick up. some cigarettes or candy bars to tide them over until they .reached.port again. Mr. Hicks. was usually the one who met new arrivals in the village firstafsomepne had .ataby, was going Ojaii or wasfeeling poorly, then Mr.. Ilieks was the man whO would know all about it. Since there were different and assorted :groups even in Mir -small -community. withilte occasional falling ,out between families; Mr. Hicks was the -one man Who Could be counted on to keep all parties informed. By the time 1d reached the senior grades in public school my tastes 'hadpretty well changedfrom penny , candy' to chocolate, bars , and bags of peanuts. In .the evenings, after we'd finished Our hornework. orie of my friends and, myself would go for a stroll down across from the docks. Imagining ourselves junior femme fatales at .age • • • 12. We'd watch hopefully for some young Sailor -fa ;1e or listen expectantly for a wolf whistle or two. ,One night w -g thought we were in luck! Someone waved ,and, called out for us to .comert0 the gates on the dock. The handsome young Sailor of our dreams turnpd out toile a ,eraying Portly man, older than our fathers. who gave us Some money and asked if we'd mind going down to Hicks" store and setting him some cigarettes.. Despite our deflated egos we agreed., and when he gave us, some. Change as a tip you guessed it we bought black balls! After all, a girl had to keep up her spirits. • Today, Mr. Hicks, his tore and a large part of my hometown are no more. The buildings were razed by the industry that bought the land so they could extend the lc refuelling dock. But every time pop a black ball into My mouth, I think of that funny old-fashioned general store, Mr. Hicks in his, • captain's chair and growing up beside the river, Two cents, dOesn't seem such a bad Mice 1opav fa- all that! Ladies Aid will perform Opera: ;coitrirt0 fo Blythr. The Blyth Centre fur. the ,Arts is currently having US' Moat auceeSSful and active Winter Season. The Blyth ,Memorial„ Hall has alrealN seen The, School Seandg. Casparia and' Mime, The Canadian Bras% a Christmas Concert, Children's movies. TpthodeTiOnPsaCtsfsLeesMCuarnaiadlleen': and Billy Bishop, and now on - Wed. Feb. 21, at 8 p.m. you, can. eniq An eVening. Opera. The Opera Theatre of the Faculty of ,MUsie. University of Western Ontario, will present Francis Poulenes opera, DIALOWES OFTHE CARMELITES, -a superb drama involving the plight of' thaendatnliSeTo et rafifthe Y and thereligiousdjs order of Carmelites and their subsequent martyrdom. The libretto is by Georges Rernanos. This production, will be in English. translated bv" Joseph Machlis. \ lee'''f .0e1.1t)C40- `.36"Vo"....,. 1 Seaforth Lions Club. .. The Ladies' Aid First 'r DAI4CE • "Church met ' for their February 4 meeting in the centennial room fo the r at Seafortb I,eglon church. ' The President Mrs. Ann k. Saturday, February10 Agar opened the rrieeting tat , With prayer and also read a oTfik Dancing from 9,:00 1:00 poem "A gift for Everyone", • t Music bv:SOUTHERN COMFORT Minutes were .read and lat • adopted by the secreatary Refreshments , Mrs. Lorne Lawson, The 4.0 . Admission S7.00 per Couple new treasurer for the Ladies' Aid is Mrs. Wilfred Proceeds t.nr Lions Leader Dcl School, CNIB CamP at 'Coleman, 4 St, Josephs, Hearing Conservation and Lions International Foundation The S • - Lesson was 'b. read by Mrs.' Edith McMillan taken from Psalm 33. Mrs. Jack Thompson offered prayer. The Ladies' Aid will give a numider at thiTimily night sponsored by the Barbara Kirkman. . The McClure Group have the March meeting,Mrs. Doreen Coleman gave a humorous reading entitled "Before the Meeting". • Mrs. Duke closed the meeting with prayer. Birthday cake served to Happy Citizens The Happy Citizens held their regular euchre in the Legion hall on Feb, ist with twelve tables in play. Prize winners' were. Ladies high -Mrs. Lillian Pepper. Ladies lone -Mrs, Anona Crozier, Ladies low- Mts. Haist. Mens, high-San- dy Pepper. Mens lone -Joe Ryan, Mens low-ClarenceWal den Lucky tallies -Mrs. Bert Walters. Mrs. Byers, Lucky valentine -Mrs. Mary Melvor, Lucky cup -Mrs. Ethel Kerr, Oldest man -Mr. John Reid. Lunch was served by Mrs. Gert Taylor, Mrs. Jessie eople Dort despair - Spring may be just around the corner. Mrs. Harry McLeod of RR 3, Seaforth spotted a robin "and it was a very healthylooking speciman—, beside her bird feeder. last 'Wednesday. Mrs. McLeod doesn't know whether the robin was an early arrival back from the south or a latestarter in making the MigratiOn to warmer climes. But whatever the robin's origins, it's, reaSsuring that there are at least some signs of spring. around! Mr. and Mrs, Norman MacLean of Egmondville are spending the month, of February in Egypt 'where they, are isiting Liz and Sadve Watson, Martha and David Hook.of Eimondyille spent part of Monday afternoon visiting The Huron Expositor. David is working on a project about tywspapers at Huron Centennial School. Margaret McLean of Bayfield is holidaying in Jamaica with her partner Audrey Marriott. The two will open The Wardrobe in Bayfield for its second season this spring. Effie, Stephenson of Seaforth recently returned from a holiday in Tobago where she visited Dr. and Mrs. J.A. Gamin. ' Brian Fischer, Of 585 Brunswick St., Stratford, has returned borne from University Hospital; London after undergoing lung surgery, when a small piece of plastic was discovered. He is now progressing favonrably. , 4.1 ....paispsisimilsosoolks,....111,..... • 140.44 OOOOO 111111111111111•011111111111111P oar • 11 While you're watching 'The Challenge Cup" we're ready with• Ituocho.:':sOpper . Phone ahead so you don't miss the games - 527-0180 VALENTINE GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE 2tHatnitSt4 SH Onto ° ael • 0 1 11.101 1 1 II 11' OOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOO 22Gratteritht., seatotttl, Ontario ell 0 II. 0 00110.104.01.10.1044 II a O WI leGregor and .NIrS. Felker,': Happy Birthday was' sung to Hazel McNaughton, Grace Pepper, Lillian 'pepper. Stari- ley Hillen. and Andy Crozier. Birthday cake was served • to them, made by Mrs. Jessie ' McGregor. ' A euchre., -and crpiinole party in thelegion hall on Feb. 8th at 8 o'clock ;will he BAKE SALE at Box Furniture store on Sat: Feb. 10th From 10:00 a.m. till baking runs out. SPONSORED BY SEAFORTE CENTENAIRES BOOSTER cine 10°=. „. '411 1 • The musical directionWWI he by Jerome Sntilatera, Mkt)) has nducted many of Canada's major SymphortY ,orchestras And is considered, PIM of Canada's Mast rOnliSing conductors. Mr. $.4111Mers' •Or.Iginai compositions hive, .ben 00 - formed; by thC. VancOnvet :51rupllotty. l'iundortt :Symphony and: roerclett for CBC, . ectIonwiit be by Martin, 'C'hanther.S., P.irector Q.peta 1/a/entitle's Sponsored by Seaforth Centenatrea, Booster Club • at., Feb. 17' PanCing 9;00 — 1 ;00 at Seaforth Arena Music by STAR TREKS " SPOTDANCE PM-2ES $0.00 per couple . Aged Majority Garda TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM • Executive IVIertibers • Bob & Betty's • Archie's Sunoco All.proceeds for junior hockey writ„,,Aroratwtrear AS • DANCE Nio Sponsored by. Egrnondville Broombctil Club, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Seaforth Community Centre • ' Sat. Feb. 1-0 MUSIC BY: Chris Black & the Swinging Brass S3.00 per person AGE OEMAJORITY CARDS Limited number of tickets- still aVailable at door • . . COMM ER CI AL HOTEL SF AF TH .ake Your Sweetheart For A Publin as THIS THURS. FRI. & SAT. ' SAM ;KELSO 41 SHOW. NEXT WEEki ASHIBA SHOW BAND • 4 FINE FOOD FINE ENTERT 1INVIENT . . MIN1SUBS • TRY 01.)R 527-0443. February Specials PIZZA LARGE *1.00 OFF MED/0/1/1 75* 0 FF SMALL 50° OFF oil••••••1••••• Pizza- Tutnoveit & Pizza Roilt 18'Patty Pizza Main St. Seaforth. STARTING MONDAY • our newly renovated dining room opens at 12 noon e Continuous. Entertainment . from 8 p.m. to I a.rb. ` sit HIGH'WAY,Itti DUBLIN- 345-2820 it HELP OVER 2ndWEEK:. 7:00 P.M. & 9:00 P.M. SHOWT1MsEuSt4.:TH UBS.FRon1.08;650::::p.mLY. • • CLINT EASTWOOD WILL TURN YOU 6EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE' • iniimmiimmmismiummose— THEATRE 36 Th. SqUori. GOdoelth. $24.7611 Proitiot tuitlitct to change without notice'